Antivirus – What Is It?
Antivirus is software that prevents, scans for, detects, and removes malicious code (viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware) from your computer or mobile device. It also protects the data in your computer and prevents viruses from transferring to other devices.
Most antivirus programs use behavior-based detection as well as signature analysis. Behavior-based detection looks for suspicious activities, such as modifying or deleting files, changing settings of other programs, and remotely connecting to computers. This method allows antivirus programs to spot malware that might not have been added to a database yet and avoid false positives.
Signature analysis is a more traditional method that compares the “fingerprint” or code of known viruses to incoming threats. If the antivirus software identifies a new virus, it will then add that threat to its malware database. This ensures that future infections will be detected.
Malware is designed to steal your personal information, damage your computer, or even take over your entire network. It can also delete important files, corrupt your operating system, tamper with systems, and generate unwanted ads.
Antivirus programs are designed to detect and eradicate the most common types of cyberthreats, including Trojan horses, worms, adware, and spyware. However, it’s important to remember that no antivirus program is 100% efficient. New viruses are being created constantly, and there’s always a chance that some malicious code could slip past the net. That’s why it’s essential to utilise the various security features offered by antivirus programs in a way that maximises their benefits and minimises any drawbacks.